benevolent

Compared meaning: generous, willing to give (adjective).

比较义项：慷慨的、乐于给予的（形容词）。

• liberal

  Liberal usually describes amounts, portions, or actions ("a liberal amount of") rather than a person directly, and has a fairly formal, literary tone.

  liberal通常用来形容数量或份量的丰厚（如“a liberal amount of”表示慷慨的量），而不是直接形容人，语体也较为正式、文雅。

  The recipe calls for a liberal amount of butter in the pastry.

  这份食谱要求在糕点里加入慷慨的一份黄油。

• generous

  Generous is the common, neutral word for someone willing to give money, time, or things freely and kindly, without implying excess or any particular motive.

  generous是最常用、最中性的说法，指乐于慷慨地给予金钱、时间或物品，并不暗示给予过多，也不特别强调动机。

  He's generous to a fault, always picking up the bill for friends.

  他慷慨得有些过头，总是抢着替朋友买单。

• lavish

  Lavish emphasizes an excessive, extravagant degree of generosity, especially with money, gifts, or hospitality, suggesting more than necessary.

  lavish强调慷慨的程度过分、奢华，尤其用于金钱、礼物或款待方面，暗示给予的远超必要程度。

  The couple was lavish with gifts at every family celebration.

  这对夫妇在每次家庭聚会上都会送出丰厚奢华的礼物。

• benevolent 本词

  Benevolent highlights a kind, caring motive behind the generosity — a genuine wish to help others — and is common in formal descriptions of charitable people or institutions.

  benevolent突出慷慨背后善良、关怀的动机——真心希望帮助他人，常用于正式语境中描述乐善好施的人或机构。

  The benevolent foundation funds scholarships for students in need.

  这家仁慈的基金会资助有需要的学生获得奖学金。

Liberal, generous, lavish, and benevolent all relate to being generous, but differ. Liberal describes an amount, sounding formal. Generous is the common word for giving freely. Lavish emphasizes excessive generosity, with gifts. Benevolent highlights a kind motive. Not compared: liberal's 'open-minded' sense; lavish's 'luxurious' sense.

这几个词在“慷慨、乐于给予”这一意义上很接近，但语气和侧重不同：liberal常用来形容数量或份量的丰厚（例如“a liberal amount of”表示慷慨的量），语体较为正式；generous是最普通、中性的说法，可以形容人或行为；lavish强调给予得过分丰厚、奢华；benevolent则强调出于善意、乐于助人的品性，语体也较为正式。这里不比较liberal表示“自由派的、开明的”（政治立场）以及lavish单独形容事物“奢华的”等其他义项。